The White House, Washington, D.C, three days later.
It was three days since they captured, and then extracted, Ba'al from the female host he had taken. His new host was a young woman who was helping Colonel Mitchell and the others while Willow, Colonel Carter, and Daniel were underground in the Ancient complex that housed the machines that were supposed to help overcome burdens so that anyone on the machines could achieve ascension. After further examination of the texts, Daniel said that these machines were the final step after the Ancients had developed their mental abilities, and any other associated requirements for ascension. The surviving boy, and the bodies of the adults, were then teleported up to the surface, following which, Willow walked Faith over to the Stargate after Colonel Carter ordered the Slayer to return to Earth after her ordeal; despite Faith's pleas that she was feeling all right.
"You just went through something that none of us have experienced, Faith," said the Colonel as she put a hand on the Slayer's shoulder, "I want you to just sit this out, and we need to make sure that everything is alright with you physically. And before you say anything? Yes, I know you can heal fast, but this is different. I want you to get a check-up, and then stay with Tara and Camille. They're due to leave for Sunnydale in a few days; and since Camille's paperwork is completed, take them out for lunch. I need you back up rested for the next mission… and don't forget you and Willow still have that meeting with the President."
"Fine," said Faith in mock anger, "but I get credit for being part of Ba'al's take down."
"D'uh," replied Willow as Colonel Carter nodded her head while holding the little boy's hand. It was then that Willow guided her wife to the Stargate, the both of them just whispering to each other about what happened in the artificial simulation, and the ways that Faith could have done things differently.
"What's done, is done," said Willow as she looked into Faith's eyes when they were a few meters away from the Stargate while they were just coming out of the woods, "all I know is that I have nothing but love for you, Faith."
"I don't feel that deep anger," said Faith as she and Willow started walking again towards the Stargate, "guess you really did…"
"You're my wife," said Willow gently, "and I should have let go of that anger a long time ago and… and you know that it's not easy to let go of grudges and…"
"I know," said Faith as she looked at Willow.
"Point is that I should have forgiven you a long time ago," said Willow as she put her arm around Faith's shoulders, "you're my wife, and I still held on to it."
"I don't feel it anymore, so it's all good," said Faith as she smiled at Willow. The redhead felt as if Faith was glowing when she saw her smile, and through their link Willow felt warmth take over… but it was nothing like they usually felt with each other.
'She's really happy,' thought Willow to herself, while she looked at the dark haired Slayer 'oh, I've been an idiot.'
"When you get back," said Faith when they were close to the Stargate, "you and me, and dinner."
"Got it," said Willow with a smile as they reached the Stargate. It would be twenty minutes later that they find Ba'al when they re-questioned ten members of the village who were acting strangely. It was during that questioning that Willow found she couldn't read the thoughts, or feel the emotions of one of them, and she pointed that out. It would be a few hours later that the village was happy for the freeing of one of their own from the alien being, and the return of a son to his mother. But they also mourned the loss of many friends and family.
The woods were decreed to be dangerous and no-one was permitted to enter. SG-1 left soon after the return of the boy, and the finding of Ba'al, with the promise that Earth would check-up on them occasionally. It was Colonel Carter who told the people that once they managed to deactivate the underground complex, only then would
Three days later, Willow was in her dress blues and Faith in a smart suit with a red blouse underneath and a skirt that went just below her knee as they headed towards the White House in a car provided by Home World Security. The two of them met with General O'Neill outside the oval office where the President's secretaries had ordered them to wait while he was on the phone.
"Hey, Big-G," said Faith as she leaned forward while she was sitting down and looked at the General who was sitting next to Willow, who looked at him as well, "what's with the meeting? I mean Henry's been wanting this meet since Red talked to him back on New Kobol when he met with Roslin. So… what's the deal?"
"He just has a few questions for you two," said the General nodding at Faith just before the three of them looked at one of the secretaries who called for them before she got up, and then headed for the door that led to the Oval Office. The three of them stood up as the elderly woman asked them to go ahead while the President stood up grinning at seeing the General and the two young women before she walked around his table. General O'Neill, and Willow walked into the Oval Office followed by Faith who closed the door behind her. The two officers saluted their Commander-in-Chief, who returned their salute, before Faith shook the man's hand. The President then motioned that they take a seat on the couches; Faith sat with Willow, and the General with the President as they sat across from one another.
"Good job on getting that Ba'al symbiote, Major, Faith," said the President as the two young women nodded their heads.
"And Faith," said the President as he looked at the Slayer, "I've read the report on your 'incident' with the Ancient machine, how are you feeling now?"
"Much, much, better Mr. President," said Faith while nodding her head.
"Good," he replied rubbing his hands together, "the reason I wanted you here is two-fold. As you know, the BPRI is about to finish their psychological evaluations of six Potential Slayers, and from that group, the NID Committee, Homeworld, and of course the BPRI will work together to pick three candidates to go through this trial."
"Yes, sir," said Willow.
"I've talked to Miss Chase, and Angel," said the President, "and we've come to an agreement that if all three Slayers are activated, then I would like one of them to be stationed at Atlantis to help out with the Wraith threat, specifically with Michael."
"I heard that even with the research I did as Athena," said Willow leaning forward, "a possible cure's still far away."
"But closer with it," said General O'Neill, "Beckett is coming up with a plan, who knows if it would work. In the meantime, they're still doing things the hard way… which would help them if all three Potentials are activated."
"I did create the clones to be durable," said Willow nodding her head before looking at Faith who nodded her head, and then at the General and President Hayes, "since the Shadow Demon took their life force and their abilities, the Slayers would have the same durability to go up against the Wraith. I mean one Slayer against an entire battalion would be suicide, but against a group of five or six… and with training? She can take them out singlehandedly. The one thing is though, I programmed the clones to be fearless… it's what's supposed to give them their strength. Obviously with Slayers, all of this is different."
"We have to control our strength," said Faith nodding her head at Willow, and then looking at the President and the General, "and it increases when we're more sure of ourselves, or angry, or… I mean you get the idea."
"The more fearless a Slayer is?" said Willow as she raised an eyebrow at the General, "the more durable they'll be against the Wraith, Sirs."
"I see," replied the President as he leaned forward, "Miss Chase and I have also agreed that the Scythe be taken out of its rocky case once the evaluations have been completed."
"I heard about that, sir," said Willow nodding her head, "the rock's been teleported to the BPRI where it's been kept under lock and key. And Buffy told me that she's been wanting to go to the pyramid she, Faith, and Kennedy saw in that vision they shared with Sineya… but there's something keeping them away."
"You don't have this feeling to go to this Pyramid that you saw in your vision, Faith?" asked the President.
"Nah," replied Faith, "maybe it's because I'm not thinking about Slaying... or me being retired as a Slayer. But no, I don't have this urge to go there."
"Good, good," said the General as he rubbed his hands and then looked at the President, who nodded at the man before he got up and walked out the door they had just walked in through. IN the meantime, the President continued talking to the two young women as the General walked back into the Oval Office smiling at the two young women who looked over their shoulders at him. Willow sensed that he was excited, and it was then she sensed the excitement coming off the President as well.
"Major, Faith, one reason I called you in here was to tell the both of you that General O'Neill and I would like the both of you to accompany us when we visit the BPRI next week," said the President, "the both of you have been a part of the supernatural from when I was a senator and General O'Neill had first gone through the Stargate. And the second reason in…. ah, just in time."
Willow and Faith looked over their shoulders again as a middle-aged man in a black suit holding three envelopes walked in through the door. He nodded at Faith and Willow, as well as the General, before he handed the enveloped to the President. President Hayes then thanked the man before he turned and left the room to go on his way. The President then looked at the envelopes and handed them to Willow and Faith; one for Willow and two for Faith.
"I'd like for you, Faith, to open the top one first," said the General, "you too, Red."
"They're just letters saying that commendations have been placed into your files at Homeworld for everything you have done in battling against the supernatural," said the President as Faith and Willow looked at each other with a smile, and then back down at the letters in their hands which just stated as much. The President then asked Faith to hold off the question that she was about to ask, and then nodded at the second envelope in her hand before he asked her to open it. Willow could sense Faith's excitement as she opened the envelope, even though she was outwardly being calm and collected. In the meantime, Willow also got a feeling from both the President and General O'Neill that Faith would like what was on in the envelope.
"Oh my God," said Faith as she read through the letter inside once, and then looked up at the President and General O'Neill with her mouth hanging open, and then back down at the letter, and then at Willow. She repeated that cycle with her jaw hanging open the entire time until she stopped at Willow again, "I… I got a full pardon."
"Sweet," said an excited Willow as she gave a wide smile when Faith handed her the letter. Faith then put both hands over her mouth and looked at the President and the General who were grinning at her. Faith then turned and hugged Willow, who was chuckling, as she placed her arms around the Slayer's back and held her tight. The both of them wanted to kiss each other, but given that they were in the White House… there was no way that was going to happen. However, Faith did get up and then hugged the General… picking him off the floor in happiness as Willow shook her head and chuckled. Faith then put the General down, who then straightened his uniform while Faith sheepishly said sorry as she stepped back. She saw the General then smile at her again before saying 'come 'ere' as he gently hugged Faith once again.
"Congratulations, Faith," whispered the General as he rubbed her back. Faith nodded her head before stepped back and wiping her left eye.
"Thanks," replied Faith as she grinned, "Jack."
"Now," said the President as Faith sat back down next to Willow who rubbed the Slayer's back, "the other reason I wanted to talk to you, Major, was because I'll be granting full pardons to Miss Summers and the others."
"It's your call to make, sir," said Willow as she finally understood why she was here. She didn't have to read minds to know that he wanted to know her feelings on giving the rest of the Scoobies a pardon. She knew that they were nearly at the end of their probation, and she believed that it was probably time to forgive. After she let go her grudge with Faith, Willow sensed how happy her wife really was since she too could feel that grudge going away.
'I'm tired of holding that against them,' thought Willow to herself. The Scoobies had already apologized, and Willow did say that she accepted their apologies. She remembered what Buffy told her back on New Kobol, and she was right. Willow knew that this was a reset in their friendship, and it was time she reset everything. She'd remember what they did, but it was finally time to just forgive and move on with life.
"True," said the President as he put his hands together and leaned forward, "what I'd like to know is.. where are you with them?"
"I've been holding on to those feelings for a long time, sir," said Willow, "I mean we talked about this on New Kobol, but things change. After what happened to Faith, I know I need to start really forgiving them. I told Faith that what happened, happened – and I know what they did was out of fear of what could happen to them. Like I told you the first time we met, sir… Buffy saved the world, we saved the world. And this pardon will give them peace."
"And push them to be better," said Faith as she looked at the letter that said she was pardoned, "like it's gonna push me. It's a brand new life for me, Buffy, and the Scoobies."
"Yes," said the President, "it is."
Willow and Faith just smiled at each other again. It would be later that night the Couple would spend their night walking along the National Mall. Willow could feel Faith's excitement and happiness at being a free woman, that everything she had done in her life was like having a weighted chain around her ankles, and she was sinking deep into the ocean. She stopped and looked at Willow, the both of them in their civilian clothes, and gently placed her hand on the redhead's cheek.
"I feel like I can breathe," said Faith with a grin, "it's like I finally see you through clear eyes.. I mean, it's like you're glowing, you know? Everything's glowing but you're the brightest."
"I love you," said Willow as she kissed the Slayer's forehead in the sparsely populated Mall before looking into Faith's eyes. Willow then hugged Faith tightly, the both of them just standing silently enjoying each other's warmth. The both of them then hugged for a few minutes before they parted, and walked arm in arm through the capital towards General O'Neill's apartment. It wasn't long before the two women reached General O'Neill's apartment where General Landry, Vala, Daniel, Colonel Carter with Debra in her arms, General Carter, Colonel Mitchell, and Teal'c; as well as General O'Neill held a small party for the pardoned Faith.
As Faith looked around the room, first at Willow, and then at Colonel Carter who hugged Faith while saying that she was proud of her. The Slayer smiled and hugged everyone before she had a sloppy kiss from Debra; and she just knew. She knew that the people with her now in the General's apartment, and even the ones who couldn't be here, were her family.
It was just before the festivities started that everyone stopped talking when Debra said her latest word while she placed her hand on Faith's cheek. The Slayer was trying to get the toddler to say her name, but instead of coming out at 'Faith' from Debra's mouth, everyone – including Willow - immediately started laughing when Debra said, 'Fat' instead.
Faith's slack jawed picture with a laughing Debra would be kept in Willow's locker for many years after.
Princeton University, three days later.
Willow was in her dress blues as she walked into a large lecture hall, leaving two airmen to guard the outside of the door. They were ordered not to let anyone into the lecture hall after Faith arrived with her father. The Airmen then nodded their heads before the redhead gently closed the door behind her in the stadium-seating style auditorium and looked at the approximately fifty or so students seated near the front as they listened to an older red-haired woman speaking about childhood behaviour.
Or at least that's what Willow thought it was.
Willow carefully walked down a few steps while she carried a briefcase in her left hand, all the while she was mentally connected to Faith who, dressed in a similar suit like what she wore during the meeting with the President, was about to approach Ira Rosenberg's office. Willow smiled at Sheila, giving her mother a small wave, as the older redhead looked up at Willow from where she was speaking into a microphone while she was pacing the area between the students and the white board on the wall. Willow sat down at the back and placed the briefcase on her lap just as Faith mentally told her that she made contact with Ira; and that they were on the way to the lecture hall.
Willow: "I'm already here, I think mom's gonna be done in a few minutes. So take your time."
It was ten minutes later that the undergraduate students got up and approached Sheila to pick her brain, all the while Sheila was looking at Willow who she saw got up from her seat at the back and was walking down the stairs to the bottom rom of seats while smiling at her. Sheila then turned to her students again and answered their questions while Willow sat down on one of the seats at the front while Faith mentally told her that she was waiting on Ira who had stopped him to ask a few questions. Willow gave a light chuckle as she mentally told Faith that Sheila was busy with students as well.
The young redhead waited patiently as the last student talked to Sheila for an extended period of time. Willow knew it would be so easy to plant a suggestion into the student's mind that he needed to go to the restroom quickly, or else.
But she didn't.
It would be fifteen minutes later that both Faith told Willow she was headed to her location with Ira, and the young man talking to Sheila had left. Willow saw him walk past her, and then out of the door at the top before she looked back at Sheila who was packing some papers, and books into a bag. Willow got up and walked towards the table where she left the briefcase. Willow then walked around the table and gave her mother a small smile as Sheila walked towards her.
"I haven't seen you for a long time, Willow," said Sheila as Willow hugged her.
"I did call," she replied stepping back as she helped Sheila pack some of her things into the bag while Sheila looked at the black briefcase on the table, and then at her daughter.
"You didn't come to see your old mother just for fun, did you?" asked Sheila as she looked at Willow.
"This is both business, and personal, mom" said Willow as she gave Sheila a small smile, "Faith's coming here with dad and… and today's the day you and dad find out what me and Faith really do."
"So it has nothing to do with satellites and space telescopes?" asked Sheila as Willow chuckled before walking towards Sheila and placing her hand gently on her mother's back. The two of them walked over to the seats in the front row and then sat down looking at each other.
"It's a bit more complicated than that," said Willow, "right now, all I can say is that you and dad have been cleared to know what me and Faith are involved in. I can also tell you that before long, everyone else will know what's going on when the President makes an announcement."
"About what?" asked Sheila as she narrowed her eyes at Willow, "Willow, what are you talking about?"
"Lets' wait for dad first?" asked Willow with a smile as Sheila closed her eyes and smiled.
"All right," said Sheila, "so tell me how you and Faith have been?"
It was fifteen minutes later that Ira and Faith walked hand in hand through the doors that led into the lecture hall. Faith then waved at Willow and Sheila who stood up as the both of them walked down the stairs. Faith and Sheila gave a quick hug, while Willow hugged Ira tightly before asking both of her parents to take a seat. The redhead then walked towards the table behind her and grabbed the briefcase, while Faith grabbed two chairs and placed them in front of Sheila and Ira. Willow sat down and placed the briefcase on her lap before taking out a small box, and then asking Faith to hold onto it as she sat down. The Slayer saw another box with buttons inside the briefcase as Willow took out two folders, and two pens before closing the briefcase and then placing it on the floor right next to her.
"Mom, dad," said Willow as she handed the folders out to her parents who looked at it with their eyebrows knitted, and then back up at Willow and Faith, "before I can tell you guys what it is that Faith and I are involved in, I need you to sign these non-disclosure agreements."
"I know it's weird," said Faith when she saw that Sheila was about to speak, "but technically what we do is still classified. And even when it's revealed by the President, there are still parts of it that will remain classified. For one you can't tell people where we work, or that we even work for this organization. The world will know what it needs to know so that it remains spinning, but you guys are going to see everything on how we keep it spinning."
"Everything?" asked Ira.
"Yea," said Willow, "please? What we're going to show you? it's amazing. Everything you thought you knew about the universe will change. From physics to medicine, to even power generation… everything will change. It'll be a few years to see the changes, but once it's out.. things will get better. And like we said, until the President releases this information, you can't tell people what you see or hear."
"Believe me," said Faith as Ira and Sheila turned to look at her, "it's a big deal."
"Please," said Willow as she leaned forward, before looking at the box in Faith's hand, and then at her father, "dad, we've got something that can help with counselling anyone, be they trauma victims, or survivors of a crime or…. Or even those who have Alzheimer's. I want to show you, dad… mom. I want to show you what we have that can help people."
"I thought you deal with satellites?" asked Sheila shaking her head while still confused, "and Faith's a security consultant and…"
"Those are cover story's," said Willow as Sheila and Ira looked at each other, and then at Willow who was looking back at them with a half-smile, "please, I wanna tell you. And this is a chance of a life time."
"Okay," said Ira as he read the Non-Disclosure agreement and then signed it, as did Sheila; the both of them returning it to Willow who placed the folders on her lap before looking at Faith, who nodded her head.
"We don't work at NORAD," said Willow as she and Faith turned to look at Ira and Sheila once again, "I don't work with satellites.. well, technically yes, but we can get to that later. It's more for defence… of a different kind."
"And I'm not a security consultant who's interning at a vault that restores archaeological items of great values," said Faith, "the both of us are a part of an organization that travels to other planets through the use of an alien device that was discovered in 1928 at Giza."
Willow and Faith looked at Ira and Sheila as they stared back at the young women in women in front of them. The couple then looked at themselves, and then back to Willow and Faith below they started to laugh.
"Alright, Willow," said Sheila waving her hands giggling while Ira was still chuckling, "that's enough, I mean if you really don't want to tell us about what you do.. you could have found a better way, and…."
"Sheila," said Faith as she reached for Sheila's hand, "we're not lying. We've been travelling through a device called a Stargate to other planets for years. We've been fighting a secret war against an alien race that takes humans as hosts, and uses the names of Earth's ancient gods to enslave people."
"That's silly, Faith," said Ira as Willow picked up her briefcase, sighed, and then opened it before handing Faith a small box that had a few buttons on it. She then placed the folders in the briefcase before placing it on the floor again.
"Willow," said Sheila with a lopsided smile, "that was a good prank, Willow… Faith."
"See," said Faith as she stood up off the seat and faced Willow with a smirk, "told you they won't believe us, you owe me ten."
"Fine," said Willow with a sigh as she stood up, while Faith opened the box she was holding.
"We haven't laughed like that in a long time, Willow," said Sheila as she watched Willow reach into the box and take out a small, circular, golden coloured device, "so…"
"Oh, no," said Willow shaking her head as she stepped forward towards Sheila, as did Faith, while the redhead pressed a few buttons on the side of the circular device, "we weren't kidding. Faith bet me that we'd have to show you the new technology we found or developed, but I told her that explaining things would be better. She won… so showing you guys the toys would be better first."
"Willow?" asked Sheila as Willow crouched in front of her while holding the device between her thumb and fore-finger.
"That's a device from an ally we met," said Faith as Sheila looked at the gold device, and Ira looked at Faith, and then at the device along with his wife, "it's from a race known as the Tok'ra, it's a more benevolent offshoot of the race we were at war with… we can talk about them later. But this device, according to what Sam said, increases the electric charges in a brain's memory center."
"It's called a memory recall device," said Willow as she held it out for Sheila and Ira to see, "we've already developed some for human use which we'll be testing over the next year or so, but this is one of the original ones. I'm going to show you proof, mom… dad. All I need to do is put this behind your ear. There will be a little sting when it attaches itself, but that's all. Just for a second. I've placed the setting to its lowest so that you don't get any negative feedback or…"
"You're implying that anyone who puts on that… so called… alien device can actually feel those memories again?" asked Ira.
"Yeah," said Faith.
"Mom?" asked Willow as Sheila looked at the device, and then at Willow.
"It's not possible," said Sheila, "that technology is only science-fiction."
"Put this on," said Faith with a smile, "then it becomes science fact."
"Ready?" asked Willow as she looked at her mother who was looking unsure of what Willow was saying.
"Try it on me," said Ira as Sheila looked at her husband, while Willow smiled at her father. Ira then leaned forward as Willow placed the device behind his ear. The man yelped as Sheila held on to his arm, asking him if he was feeling alright. Ira told his wife that he just felt a sting, but he didn't feel anything now.
"I'm going to activate the device, dad," said Willow as she hovered her finger over a small button on the side of the device, "you'll get a lot of images in your mind. All memories coupled with a very low setting. You won't feel the feedback, at least not as much."
"You can't control what you see," said Faith as Sheila and Ira looked at her, "but we can guide you. The Tok'ra believe that the brain can sort out the images on it's own it no instructions are given, but it's also good for guiding someone towards a memory. You can show them a picture of a person or a place, and even if they can't remember… an image comes up from deep in their memory. They see things that they've forgotten, details they've missed. It's one heck of a piece of tech."
"Think about your fondest memory," said Willow as Ira closed his eyes and nodded his head. Willow placed one hand over Sheila's, which was on Ira's arm. Willow then reached with her free hand and activated the device as Ira tensed up before giving a yelp.
"Ira," said a worried Sheila.
"Oh dear," said Ira as he shook his head while his eyes were moving underneath his eyelids, "Sheila, Willow, Faith… I see… I see Sheila during our wedding, our return back to Sunnydale… oh my…. I see that… I see the diner. Sheila and I were ordering two hotdogs and a shake when… wait, that's not right.. I…. Willow?"
"I'm here, dad," said the redhead.
"No," said Ira as he shook his head, "I.. I see you… sitting in a booth. A brunette was shouting and we looked and…"
Willow looked at Faith with her eyes wide open before she quickly got up and turned the device off as Ira opened her eyes to looked at a stunned Sheila who was asking him if everything was alright.
"This technology is going to help a lot of people, Sheila," said Ira as Sheila looked on amazed. Ira then looked up at Willow who looked back down at her father stunned that he had that memory.
'They were supposed to forget,' thought Willow to herself about the day she descended, 'I.. I never thought that…'
"Willow," said Ira, "why were you there in my memories?"
"Maybe it was someone that looked like Willow," said Faith.
"Ira?" asked Sheila, "what's going on? Willow wasn't even conceived then.. I know the day you're talking about… she was conceived that night and…"
"Eww," said Willow, "mom, I don't need to know, and, again, Eww."
"I know my own daughter," said Ira as he stood up and put his hand on Willow's cheek and looked into her daughter's eyes, "what's going on, Willow? Why are you in my memory?"
"It's not me, dad," said Willow with the most honest face she could muster; but it was ten she realized that if she denied what her father saw that day at the diner, then he and Sheila would believe that the device was faulty. Willow had already told them that this was the original device, and after having a mental communication with Faith, they agreed on a plan of action. So, Willow sighed and then shook her head, "there's an explanation for who you saw, but first… Faith and I need to show you and mom some things."
"Now you're going to tell us that we have ships?" asked Sheila as Faith took out the device from behind Ira's ear. Sheila looked at the small smile on Willow's face and her eyes went wide in disbelief, "you've got to be joking."
TBC.